Stockton 42

Widnes 11

WIDNES travelled to Teeside for their first away fixture in League North One and on this showing they are going to be involved in a relegation dog fight.

Things did not start at all badly for Widnes in the first minute, good handling by the backs resulted in centre, Alan Glover, being bundled into touch just short of the Stockton line.

Widnes were awarded a penalty which Hussey narrowly missed but after this good start, and for the next 20 minutes, it was all Stockton.

After eight minutes Dave Turner kicked a penalty making the score 3-0.

Three minutes later Dave Richardson, the Stockton stand-off, weaved his was through the Widnes defence to make the score 8-0.

A minute later the Stockton centre, Danny Kitching, shrugged off three Widnes defenders to score a fine try under the posts, converted by Dave Turner to make the score 15-0.

He crossed again, helped this time by the impressive Brett Wildridge's surge from outside the Widnes 22, conversion missed by Turner making the score after 30 minutes, 20-0 to Stockton.

In the 31st minute Stu Hussey struck a fine 35 yard penalty score 20-3.

From a quick tap penalty McCaughren broke through the Stockton defence and after some fine driving from the Widnes forwards Ledson was able to squeeze over in the left-hand corner, conversion attempt missed by Hussey.

Before half-time, a silly mistake by Widnes enabled Stockton to extend their lead when the home side prop-forward Mark Binns was driven over the Widnes line, converted by Turner, making the score 27-8.

In injury time Hussey kicked a penalty to make the half-time score 27-11.

The first 15 minutes of the second-half were rather flat, both sides playing some uninspired rugby.

Turner kicked a penalty for Stockton, making the score 30-11.

It was at this stage that the game really began to slip away from Widnes who had no answer to Stockton's powerful back-row who repeatedly made inroads through the heart of the Widnes defence.

Replacement winger, Dave Cook, sealed the game for Stockton when he out-paced the Widnes cover, converted by Turner.

For the last quarter-of-an-hour it was all Widnes. Both Ledson and Stevens were denied tries by a reiliant Stockton defence.

However, it was Stockton who had the final say when their forwards battered the Widnes line and on their fourth drive from a five metre scrum, scrum-half Dave Tighe burrowed over, with Dave Turner converting making the final score 42-11.

It must be said that the Widnes front five stuck mainly to the task and not once did any heads go down.

But the side and power of the Stockton pack was just too much for them to handle.

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